Pressure tank and the like



fib 8, 1933- I J. APAASCHE, 11,899,244

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mm m 5; 1929 @nz/enfanmama Feb; 2a, 1933 me A. rum OF CHICAGO,

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Application filled July 5,

This invention has to do with certain improvements in pressure tanks such as are used or air painting operations, laboratory tests,

where quick access to the entire inner area is important for ease of cleaning and change of fluids, and the like. The invention has to do paticularly with the construction of the covers and the means whereby said covers are detachably secured in place in a perfectly air-tight and gas-tight manner. One object of the invention is to provide a locking means for securing in place the covers of all sizes of fluid covers of considerable diameter. The pres sure which the cover must resist and which must be met and overcome by the locking device increases rapidly with the increase of diameter since'the area of the cover increases as the square of the diameter. This makes it necessary to make very'special provision for securing lar g e, covers in place in an air tight manner. he features of the invention ma also be used in connection with boilers, and steam or heated containers where quick cover removability is essential.

In connection with the securing of the cover in place it isa further object of the invention to provide an arrangement such that a very effective and gas-tight seal is produced so as to entirely eliminate leakage. In this connection it is a further object to provide a construction such that the cover will always be sealed in a perfectly airtight manner even when re atedly secured to or removed from the mi:

One object of the invention is "to provide a series of clam ing locks of such construction that each 0 them is capable of exerting a very lar e clamping force for securing the cover to t e tank. hese clamping devices are then located at uniform spacing around the cover and tank so that they serve to draw the cover and tank together with a uniform force and pull throughout the entire periphl urthermore, these individual clamping devices are so constructed that they can be operated in a very rapid manner and without the need of using special tools or appliances. y this means it is possible to atressure tanks, that is, with 1029. Serial in. 370,020.

tach or detach the cover from the tank in a small fraction of the time it would otherwise take. tion insures the aplication of a uniform amount .of clamping action all the way around the cover and also insures a uniform clamping force each time the coveris secured V to the tank. 1

Another feature of the invention relates to the provision of means whereby the amount of clamping action can be easily adjusted This result is accomplished by the insertion or removal of relatively thin shims which are located between the pivot block and the surface of the cover itself. The clamping action can be increased or decreased by chan ing the number or thickness of these shims rom time to time.

A further feature of the invention relates to the provision of an arrangement such that each clamp will lock itself securely in'place by a leverage or toglgle action due to the relative positions of t e pivot centers with respect to the point of contact with the lever or the toggle block with the bead.

Another feature of the invention relates to the provision of toggle or leverage blocks which are either completely self contained, including the 0 rating handles or in which the operating iizndles can be readily connected or disconnected from the toggle from time to time as desired.

Another feature of the invention relates to the provision of an improved construction of gasket for sealing the cover with respect to the edge of the tank. Preferably this gasket is made from a suitable packing material insert into the bottom groove face of the cover; although relatively soft metals such as copper may also be used if desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction which is well adapted for use in connection with covers of almost an size requiring the feature of rapid and umformly tight locking and removability.

Further objects and uses of the invention will appear from a detailed description of the same which consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

At the same time this construe.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of a tank having applied thereto a cover embodying the features of the present invention, the same bein provided with locking devices embodying tie features of the present invention, the lower portion of the tank being broken away so as to shorten up the figure;

Fig. 2 shows a top or plan view corresponding to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a fragmentary section on the line 33 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, but on enlarged scale; and

Fig. 4 shows a view similar .to that of Fig. 3, but illustrating a modified type of construction in which the toggle block is provided with a socket to receive the end portion of an operating handle bar of suitable length to exert high tension or pressure on the coyer and tank head with ease.

In the drawing, 5 discloses the tank roper.

The upper edge of the said tank is eaded over as shown at 6 in the different figures; and this beaded ortion is preferably re-enforced by a circu ar wire or rod 7, to provide rigidity and establish an abutment.

The cover is designated by the numeral 8. It is of slightly larger diameter than the beaded portion 6, so that when set down against the top of the tank there will be a slight overlap as shown at 9 in the different figures. Preferably a suitable packing insert 10 is placed in a circular socket extending around the bottom face of the cover 8 at the position of contact with the head 6. This insert 10 may be made of asbestos in case heated fluid is used or copper or other suitable packing materials or soft metal softer than the metal of the tank itself.

Located around the periphery of the cover there are a series of-toggle locking devices 11. Each of these includes a block 12, which is provided with a downwardly extending stud 13 reaching through the cover and secured in place by a nut 14 onits lower end. The exact elevation of each block 12 may be regulated by the use of one or more relatively thin packing material shims 15, placed between said block and the surface of the cover before the block is fastened into place, sealingthe joint tight and providing adjustability for as high tension as may be required, depending on the pressure to be resisted.

A. curved link 16 has its upper end pivotally connected to each block 12 at the point 17. A toggle block 18 is pivotally connected to the lower end of each curved link at the point 19. These toggle blocks are provided with somewhat blunt pointed upper ends 20 which are adapted to seat against and firmly engage the lower face of the bead 6. The inner face 21 of each toggle block 18 is so formed that when the bluntly pointed portion 20 en ages the lower face of the bead 6, the inner ace 21 of the toggle block will come squarely to bearing against the wall 22 of the tank; and when this condition has been established, the line oining the pivot points 17 and 19 lies to the inside or tank side of the point of contact of the blunt points 20 with the head 6. Due to this condition, a toggle action is established so that the blocks 18 will not become disengaged from the bead 6 except by forcibly turning said blocks 18 outwardly away from the wall 22 of the tank.

It will be understood that the links 16 are so curved that when the cover is locked in place said links do not touch the edge portion of the cover 8 but leave a slight clearance as indicated in Figures 3 and 4.

Each of the blocks 18 is manipulated in any convenient manner. For example, in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 each of said blocks is shown as being provided with a downwardly and outwardly flaring handle piece 23 which reaches away from the surface of the tank on a sufficient angle to enable said handle to be conveniently manipulated. At the same time this angle is such that the handle is readily and conveniently grasped in a very effective manner.

The construction of Fig. 4 differs from that of Figures 1, 2 and 3 mainly in the shape of the toggle block 24 and in the handle used for manipulating. In the construction of this figure the upper portion of the toggle block 1s provided with a seating surface 25 formed on the roper angle to bear squarely against the sur ace of the tank 22 even when the block 24 reaches outwardly at an angle of substantially 18 from the surface of the tank as shown in Fig. 4. The block 24 is then provided with a socket 26 reaching up into its body portion and adapted to receive the end of an operating bar 27 which can be readily set into place in said socket. By this arrangement the same handle bar can be successively used for operating the different toggle blocks.

It will be understood that the amount of locking action can be adjusted from time to time in a very simple manner by merely changing the packing shims under the various blocks 12.

Inasmuch as I do not in this application concern myself particularly with the exact use to which the pressure tank is to be placed, I have not illustrated any particular form of apparatus in connection therewith. I have, however, just by way of illustration shown a pipe 28 connected into the cover, a safety valve 29, also on the cover, and a removable plug 30 on the cover, through which latter the tank may be filled or emptied of liquid without actually having to remove the cover from the tank.

While I have herein shown and described only a single embodiment of the features of my present invention, still I do not intend to limit myself thereto except as I may do so in the claim.

I claim:" In a device of the class described, the cornbination of a cylindrical tank having its upper'end provided with an outwardly and downward] facing exterior shoulder, a cover for said tan a series of blocks secured to said cover relatively close to its periphery, links for said blocks having their upper ends pivotall connected to the respective blocks, said lin s extending outwardly around the edge of the cover and the shoulder aforesaid, toggle blocks pivotally connected to the lower ends of the links, each to gle block having an upwardly facing pointe portion for engagement with the downwardly facing shoulder and having an inner contactin portion to engage the surface of the tan the parts being so proportioned that when said portion 7 engages the surface of the tank said pointed portion engages the downwardly facing I shoulder at a position outwardly with respect to the line extending between the pivotal connections at the two ends of the link, substantially as descr'bed.

JENS A. PAASCHE. 

